Pierced ear ornament with lobe support means

ABSTRACT

THE INVENTION COMPRISES AN EARRING HAVING A POST EXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREFROM WHICH IS ADAPTED TO FIT INTO THE PIERCED EAR. A SUPPORT MEMBER WHICH IS ELONGATEDLY SHAPED FITS BEHIND THE EAR AND RUNS PARALLEL TO THE BACK SURFACE THEREOF AND IS PROVIDED WITH A HOLE IN THE APPROXIMATE CENTER THEREOF. THE POST OF THE EARRING FITS THROUGH THE HOLE IN THE SUPPORT MEMBER AND A SPRING-LIKE SECURING MEMBER FITS OVER THE END OF THE POST HOLDING THE EARRING AGAINST THE EAR WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY THE SUPPORT MEMBER.

Feb. 16, 1971 NOEL 3,563,056

PIERCED EAR ORNAMENT WITH LOBE SUPPORT MEANS Filed March 26, 1969 FIG.2

INVENTOR.

HAZEL H. NOEL BY M law, we, 1.03 i

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 01 fice 3,553,055 Patented Feb. 16, 1971 3,563,056 PIERCE!) EAR ORNAMENT WITH LOBE SUPPORT MEANS Hazel Ill. Noel, 42 W. 35th St., New York, N.Y. 10001 Filed Mar. 26, 1969, Ser. No. 810,506 Int. Cl. A440. 7/00 US. CI. 63-12 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprises an earring having a post extending rearwardly therefrom which is adapted to fit into the pierced car. A support member which is elongatedly shaped fits behind the ear and runs parallel to the back surface thereof and is provided with a hole in the approximate center thereof. The post of the earring fits through the hole in the support member and a spring-like securing member fits over the end of the post holding the earring against the ear which is supported by the support member.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a means for supporting an earring, of a heavy nature, on the ear of the wearer. I

Heretofore, it has been known that in order for a woman who has pierced ears to wear a heavy fiat type earring it was almost impossible to support the same on the wearers ear. The weight of the heavy earring would and does tend to turn the lobe, which has been pierced, under the heavy weight of the earring such that the earring would be facing, instead of outwardly from the ear, downwardly.

No problem was encountered when the pierced ear was to support a hanging or dropped earring, however, the problem principally arises when a flat, coin-like earring is to be supported in the pierced ear of the wearer.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difficulties in the prior art means of supporting earrings by providing an inexpensive and sturdy means for supporting a flat earring in a pierced ear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support for an earring. that will balance an earring of exceptional weight or size thereby holding it in a direct forward position on the ear lobe.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a support member which is not seen by a casual observer.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to pro vide a support means for an earring worn by a woman who has pierced ears which will permit the supporting of heavy earrings against the ear.

The foregoing and other advantages may be achieved by providing a fiat-back post earring having a post extending outwardly therefrom, said post adapted to fit into the hole of a womans pierced car, a support member having a hole therein adapted to fit over the post as it protrudes through to the rear of the wearers ear, and a fastening means adapted to fit over the post and urge said support means in a fixed relationship to the inner surface of said flat earring.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the respective views and wherein:

'FIG. 1 is a rear view of a persons ear showing the completely supported earring,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the earring and its support members,

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention showing the earring and fastening member,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred support member,

FIG. 5 is a further alternative embodiment showing the combining of the fastening element and support means, and

FIG. 6 is yet a further alternative embodiment of the support means.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 a post earring is generally represented by the reference numeral 10. The earring is adapted to be used by a woman who has pierced ear lobes 12 from which ear decorations or earrings 10 are adapted to be supported.

In this instance, I show a fiat-backed post earring 14 which is generally adapted to be used to flush fit against the outer surface 16 of the ear lobe 12 to decorate the ear lobe in a matching fashion to other jewelry or merely in an ornamental manner. As shown in FIG. 2, a post 18 extends upwardly from the rear surface 20 of the earring 10 and is generally perpendicular to that rear surface 20. The post '18 is adapted to be inserted into the hole 22 provided in the pierced ear of the wearer, as may be seen in FIG. 1. The post 18 is adapted to fit through the hole 22 in the pierced ear lobe 12 such that it may protrude from the rear of the ear lobe and may be engageable with other supporting means 24 and fastening means 26.

In order to hold the generally soft tissue ear lobe in a rigid position so that the heavy flush fit earring 10 will not merely bend under the weight of the earring 10, a support member 24 may be provided to fit over the protruding post 18. At the same time the support member 24 may provide a means for stiffening the rear surface of the lower portion of the ear. To this end an elongated strip 28 is provided having a hole 30 in the approximate center thereof. The longitudinal ends 32, 34 of the elongated strip 28 may be provided with rounded surfaces 36, 38 or bead-like attachments thereto so that no sharp edges would be in contact with the relatively soft tissues at the rear of the individuals ear lobe 12. The elongated strip 28 may be, if desired, slightly and generally contoured to the back of the ear lobe 12 but generally is provided for the sole purposes of supporting the rear of the wearers ear. The post 18 is adapted to fit through the hole 30 in the elongated strip 28 and the lower beaded edge 38 of the elongated strip 28 may be either in contact with the back surface 20 of the earring 10 or just merely abut the back surface of the wearers ear lobe 12. At the same time, the upper end 32 of the elongated strip 28 is disposed against the harder surface portion of the users ear not merely the soft fleshy ear lobe but the more rigid section above the ear lobe. As a consequence, the support member 24 or elongated strip 28 has a relatively rigid surface against which it may be pressed at its upper end so that the lower end may be held against the rear surface of the soft ear lobe and thereby support that soft tissue. With the post 18 protruding through the hole 30 in the elongated strip 28 a fastening means 26, in the form of a spring clip 42 may be fit over the end of the pin 18 and may be adapted to flush fit against the back surface 44 of the elongated strip 28 thereby holding the strip 28 in firm position against the back of the ear lobe :12.

It should be noted that the spring clip 42 is provided with a hole 46 into which the post 18 of the earring is insertable. The spring clip 46, which may be integral with or independent of the support member 24, is connectable on the post 18. In this manner the clip 46 directly engages the support member 24 to provide the required contact of the support member to the ear to hold the earring 10 in a fixed position on the ear lobe 12. Wings 48 are provided on the spring clip 42 so that the clip 42 may be gripped and slid onto the post 18 to be locked on the same. By squeezing the wings 48, in the direction of the arrows of FIG. 2, placement of the clip 42 on the post 18 may be facilitated.

As shown in FIG. 1, the soft fleshly portion of the ear lobe 12 through which the post 18 has been fit, is sandwiched between the rigid rear surface 20 of the earring 10 and the rigid outer surface 50 of the elongated strip 28 which is being supported against the more firm tissues of the rear portion of the users ear. In this manner, the relatively heavy earring 10 may be held firmly in position against the supported fieshly portion of the ear lobe 12 such that the weight of the earring 10 will not turn the ear lobe under, since the upper end 34 of the elongated strip 28 presses against the rigidly disposed rear portion of the ear preventing such from happening.

As an alternative, the fastening means 26 and support member 24 may be combined into one unit as shown in FIG. 5. Here the fastening element 26 and support means 24 are made from the same base material and are combined into one unit which provides the exact same support features of the previously described elongated support element 24 and the separate fastening member 26. The action of the hole 46' and its cooperative locking operation with the pin 18 of the earring 10 remains identical to that as shown in conjunction with the spring clip of FIGS. 1 and 2. Further, FIG. 6 shows yet another alternative embodiment which is operable as previously described in the preferred em bodiment. In this latter instance, the wing 48" are of the same base material and are integral with the support member 24".

In summary, I have provided an earring construction and support arrangement whereby heavy flush fit earrings may now be used with pierced ears without the use of screw fasteners and permitting the ornamental decoration of the wearers ears without causing unsightly drooping of the ear lobes.

While in accordance with the patent statutes a preferred and alternative embodiments have been shown and described in detail, it should be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears comprising an ear ornament, a post extending rearwardly from the back surface of said ornament, said post being of a size adapted to be inserted into the hole in the soft lobe of the pierced ear, support means comprising an elongated support member removably attachable onto said post and of a size and shape to extend upwardly into abutting contact with the back surface of the rigid portion of the ear above the soft lobe when attached to said post, and means for rigidly attaching said support member onto said post with the lobe of the ear sandwiched between said ornament and said support member and the upper portion of said support member in contact with the rigid portion of the ear.

2. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 1 wherein said elongated support member has longitudinal ends, each of said longitudinal ends having bead-like attachments thereto so that no sharp edges are in contact with the rear portion of the wearers ears.

3. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 1 wherein said support member has a hole of a size to receive said post and said afiixing means includes a clip means for frictionally engaging said post and locking said support member onto said post which extends through said hole.

4. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 3 wherein said clip means includes a spring clip provided with a hole therein to receive the post.

5. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 4 wherein said spring clip is provided with wings for facilitating the placement of said spring clip on said post.

6. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 5 wherein said ornament is provided with a flat rear surface which fits against the outer surface of said ear lobe, said elongated support element insertable over said post fitting snugly against the rear surface of said ear lobe, and said spring clip releasably connected on said post and abutting said elongated support member holding said earring in place.

7. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 6 wherein said spring clip is generally U-shaped whereby said wings extend rearwardly for ease of manipulation.

8. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears accordingly to claim 3 wherein said clip means is integral with said elongated support member and is provided with wings thereon.

9. A post earring for use in conjunction with pierced ears according to claim 3 wherein said clip means is connected to said elongated support member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 758,848 5/1904 Pejchar 63-13X 3,459,007 8/1969 Whatley 6314 FOREIGN PATENTS 40,085 12/1909 Austria 63l2 482,715 1/1917 France 63-12 F. BARRY SHAY, Primary Examiner 

